I am not naive enough to suggest that the wheels of Washington "should" be grinding along without regard to political significance or implication - but I am idealistic enough to want to SCREAM about how off-balance the whole fucking situation is.

The over emphasis on "the process" and "the perception" and the "media imprint," coupled with the lack of any substantive discussion of ideas, principles, or actual facts, is starting to fray my nerves. I am reminded of Accounts Payable from "Get Your War On" dominating a non-existent intra-office news cycle:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/04/get-your-war-on-dominatin_n_131902.html

{or link at sig}

Even the whole hoopla about the White House Correspondents dinner - while I am glad that I have been able to see the wonderful performance given by Stephen Colbert a couple of years back, in general, I think the purpose of that dinner has been completely lost in the last few years, as the media has focused on the process, and the insider trading knowledge of the access to the halls of power. I think it would be a healthy thing for the Correspondents dinner to be a relatively private affair where some off-color or blue jokes could be told amongst people who are too often communicating in the code allowed between people who spend their lives in the public eye. But now that most of the media works on the unspoken understanding that life occurs off the record unless they are explicitly told otherwise, having a dinner to go off the record is kind of a joke in itself. Or maybe it's not such a joke:

...The most consistent and ultimately damaging failure of political journalism in America has its roots in the clubby/cocktail personal relationships that inevitably develop between politicians and journalists - in Washington or anywhere else where they meet on a day-to-day basis. When professional antagonists become after-hours drinking buddies, they are not likely to turn each other in ... especially not for "minor infractions" of rules that neither side takes seriously; and on the rare occasions when Minor infractions suddenly become Major, there is panic on both ends."

-Hunter S. Thompson, Author's Note to Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72

{I know I've quoted that here before. For anyone who doesn't appreciate the repetition, too bad.}

The fact that there does not seem to be any substantive discussion of Johnsen's abilities to assume the position for which she has been nominated, and the fact that all of this other complete bullshit is so prevalent, is making me disconsolate and bitchy.

'...Today, on its "Post-Partisan" Opinins page ...'

I think you meant "...Opinions..."

Keep up the yeoman's work, Glenn. I think I am starting to see some cracks in the castle walls.

Aaong those lines, Harris ...

Don't have time to add any substantive thoughts - just - good on ya, Glenn. Thanks for all your work, but especially the last few days.

Welcome back, by the way. Way to jump in head first.

8 1/2 years ago I was the focus of an intervention organized by some lifelong friends. I was awoken at 9 in the morning and offered assistance to go to treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction. I accepted. It was now 9:45AM, and a flight to a treatment center was procured, which left town at 4:30. So we had a few hours to kill - we went to lunch, and bought a shitload of cigarettes, and ended up in the airport lounge, which was the designated smoking area in the airport. A waitress came over, and we ordered around the table: "Water." "Coke." "Have you got any ginger ale?" "Ummmm... what do you have on tap?"

My friend, who was trying to save my life, had no idea that it might be an inappropriate time to have a beer. It was not his problem.

This incident has proven invaluable to me as an addict in recovery in forcing me to learn the lesson early on that beer will always be there. {Whatever I am focused on in an unhealthy way} will always be there. The problem is not that they are there, or that other people drink or smoke or whatever - the problem is that I can't do so and hope to maintain any semblance of sanity in my life.

So I go to concerts in clubs and it doesn't bother me that other people are drinking, or whatever, most times. If it does bother me - that is my problem, not theirs. And it is my responsibility to take care of myself: by adjusting my attitude, if possible, or leaving, if not. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the party, or concert, or event - it is all about me and the knowledge about myself with which I have been graced through years of therapy and recovery.

In the last two years I have celebrated numerous 40th birthday parties with the crew of friends who performed the intervention - and they all got wasted, and I was the designated driver, and it has been a ton of fun. And I am glad that, in general, I am not around that much drinking. But for those events, I don't mind at all.

I think Cary's answer was great - I just thought I would pile on.

Also, I thought StanAccrington's response was funny.

Glenn, the link to the report is still off. As posted, it is:

http://http//www.aclu.org/oigreport/

you have an extra "http// in there somehow.